PSBA009 Methodology of Psychology I

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Martin Jelínek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Helena Klimusová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Petr Květon, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. PhDr. Tomáš Urbánek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Martin Jelínek, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Kateřina Šefčíková
Supplier department: Department of Psychology – Faculty of Arts
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course is conceived as an introduction to the methodology of psychology and related disciplines. In addition, methodological procedures in the area of ​​quantitative methodology are presented. The subject follows the Methodology of Psychology II focused on qualitative methodology.
Learning outcomes

After completing the course, students will understand the nature of scientific knowledge in psychology. They will know the basic methods and techniques and the ways in which they are used in research and in building scientific knowledge.

Syllabus
1. Introduction to science. Different ways of acquiring knowledge. Science as subject-matter oriented, systematic, critical, reproducible knowledge. The research in psychology according to the objectives and research designs. Objectives of research in psychology - description, prediction, explanation. Basic concepts - theory, hypothesis, construct, operationalization, variable. Basic research designs - experiment, quasi-experiment, correlation studies. Specific research strategies, longitudinal and cross-sectional research. 2. Measurement in psychology. Indirect measurement of constructs , validity and reliability of instruments. Validity of the research - the validity of statistical procedures, construct validity, external and internal validity . Types of variables according to their role in research. 3. Qualitative and quantitative data, types of scales . Descriptive and inductive statistics. The principle of falsification, hypothesis testing, the null hypothesis in the process of hypothesis testing , type I. and II . errors. 4. The research sample . Population vs sample . The compilation of the sample . Representativeness. Probability vs non-statistical sampling. The sample size . 5. A causal interpretation of relationships, Mill's canons of induction. Experiment versus correlation study. Types of experimental designs according to manipulation with the independent variables. Variants of one-factor and multifactor experiments. Sources of threats to internal validity. 6. Within-subject experiment. Randomization and balancing. Design of control groups and control conditions in psychological research. 7. Within-subject experiment. Effect of condition order, the progressive effect, effect of the transfer. Counter-balancing - complete and partial balancing, reverse balancing, block randomization. 8. Quasi-experimantal design. Design with non-equivalent control group, multiple time series designs. Specifics of threats to internal validity. 9. Correlation studies. Limited conclusions of the correlation studies. Confounding factors in the correlation study - spurious correlation, developmental sequence, missing middle variable, double cause. 10. Research proposal. Structure of the research project - name, theoretical background , research aim and hypotheses, method, discussion, sources.
Literature
    required literature
  • GOODWIN, C. James. Research in psychology : methods and design. 6th ed. Hoboken: Wiley & Sons, 2010, xxiii, 600. ISBN 9780470522783. info
  • FERJENČÍK, Ján. Úvod do metodologie psychologického výzkumu : jak zkoumat lidskou duši. Translated by Petr Bakalář. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2000, 255 s. ISBN 8071783676. info
    recommended literature
  • PUNCH, Keith. Úspěšný návrh výzkumu. Translated by Jan Hendl. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2008, 230 s. ISBN 9788073674687. info
  • Logika vědeckého bádání. Edited by Karl R. Popper. 1. vyd. Praha: OIKOYMENH, 1997, xliv, 617. ISBN 80-86005-45-3. info
  • KERLINGER, Fred N. Základy výzkumu chování : pedagogický a psychologický výzkum. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 1972, 705 s. info
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Assessment methods
The assessment process includes: 1) Submission of a quantitative research project – the project is graded with a maximum of 10 points. To successfully complete the course, students must earn at least 6 points. 2) A final test with a maximum of 20 points. To successfully complete the course, students must earn at least 12 points.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every week.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2026, recent)
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